Wire-stitching machine



AP 9 E. LESCHHORN WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1925 5Sheets-Sheet April 1929- E. LESCHHORN WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed Sept.4, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet April 9, 19290 sc g m 1 7@8,314

WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 9,1929, E, LESCHHORN 1,708,314

WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4-, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 9,1929. E. LESCHHORN WIRE STITCHING MACHINE F iled Sept. 4, 1925 5Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 9, 1929. I

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

ERNEST LESCHHORN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A SSIGNOR TO LATHAH MACHINERYCOMPANY, A CQRPORATIQN OF ILLINOIS.

WIRE-STITCHIN G MACHINE.

Application filed September 4, 1923. Serial No. 660,788.

This invention relates to a wire stitching machine and more particularlyto the feeding and cutting mechanism thereof.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a stitchingmachine of simple construction and at the same time increase theefficiency of the same.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a novel and simple meansfor adjusting the feeding and cuttingmeehanlsm by means of which themachine can be quickly adjusted to stltch various sized staples.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form ofcutting mechanism by means of which the knife is always actuated throughthe .same cut-ting movement by the actuating mechanism regardless of itsposition of adjustment.

These and other objects are obtained by providing a construction andarrangement of the various parts in the manner herein after describedand particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a wire stitching machine showingmy improvement embodied therein.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail top plan view of my improved feedingmechanism showing the train of gears for operatively driving the same.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the lines 4-4 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 ofFig. 1, showing the manner'in which my improved cutting mechanism isadjustahly mounted on the frame of the machine.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig.1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary front elcvational View of the cuttingmechanism.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the cutting mechanism shown in Fig.7. v

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the cutter box taken on the lines9-9 in Fig. 7

60 Fig. 10 is a cross sectional View taken on the lines.1010 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the lines 11-11 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the lines 1212 ofFig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows indicated, and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevational View, taken on the lines 13-13of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, of the wire cheekand straightening device.

The present invention is applied to wire stitching machines of thegeneral character well known in the art and only that portion of themachine is shown in the drawings to sufliciently illustrate the presentinvention and its relative parts. The whole stitching mechanism, whichconstitutes the head, is supported on a horizontally dis osed arm 15,which rotatably supports a s aft 16 in a horizontal bore 17 of the. arm.Secured to the forward end of the arm 15 is a vertically disposed fplate18 upon which the operative parts 0 the stitcher are mounted. A reducedportion-of the shaft 16, indicated at 19, extends from the plate 18 andhas secured thereto by means of a key, not shown, an operating cani 20.The cam 20 is prevented from displacement on the reduced portion 19 ofthe shaft 16 by means of a washer and screw 21. Securely mounted in any-well known manner on a collar 22 formed integrally with the cam 20 is aspur gear 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The lower portion of the plate18 has secured thereto by means of pins 24, a block 25. The block 25 isprovided with a vertically extending groove or recessed ortion 26 on itsfront side through which t e staple former 27 is mounted for verticalslidin movement. The forward or front side of the staple former 27 isprovided with a vertically extending channel or groove 28, which isadapted to reciprocally receive a staple driver 29. Both the stapleformer and driver are operatively reciproeated in their respectivechannels or grooves by the cam 20. The staple former 27 is connected tothe cam by a roller 30 at its upper end, which operates in a cam groove31 formed in the cam, and the driver 29 is operatively connected to thecam by means of a pitman connection 32 having one end thereof connectedto the upper end of the driver and the other end thereof pivotallyconnected eccentrically to the cam 20. 'Extending through apertures 33and 34 formed in the lower ends of the block 25 and the plate 18,respectively, is the usual anvil 35 mounted in a socket 36, which issecured in the said apertures 33 and 34 by a set screw 37. The anvil 35is normally actuated to the position shown in Fig. 2 by a compressionspring 38 which has one end thereof engaging a shoulder 39 of the anvil35 and the other end thereof enga ing the base of the socket 36. Theforwar end of the anvil is provided with the usual horizontally disposedslot 40 which is adapted to receive the wire and hold the same duringthe time the staple is being formed b the sta le former. Pivotedforwardly o the anvil 35 is the usual staple supporter 41 pivoted at42-to a hanger 43. The supporter 41 is adapted to extend between'thelegs of the staples while they are being driven. The supporter 41 isnormally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a verticallyreciprocable pin 44 mounted in a socket 45 and normally presseddownwardly by a compression spring 46.

The mechanism thus far described is the usual mechanism employed in thistype of stitching machine, and per se does not form any part of thepresent invention.

or this reason a more detailed description of the same is unnecessary.

The principal feature of the present invention is'the provision of animproved cutting mechanism which is adapted to be adjusted by a thumbscrew in such a manner as to cut wires of different lengths when thefeeding mechanism is correspondingly adjustd to feed wires of a propercorrespondin 'len h. This mechanism comprises an ad usta le cutter box47, which includes a block 48 having a rearwardly projecting portion 49adapted to slidably engage a horizontally extending recess 50 formed onthe forward side of the block 25. The block 48 is provided with athreaded aperture 47 which is adapted to receive a bolt 48 forpermanently securing the box against relative horizontal adjustment whenthe proper adjustment of this cutter box has been determined. This bolt48 extends through a slotted aperture 49 of the plate 18 and block 25.It will, of course, be understood that when the cutter box is to beadjusted horizontally this bolt 48 must be loosened so as to permit thisadjustment. The cutter box 47 is adjustably mounted in the groove 50 bymeanssof a threaded screw 51. The threaded screw 51 connects theadjustable cutter box 47 by having threaded engagement therewith, asshown at 52. The end of the screw 51 oppositethe threaded end thereofextends through a horizontally disposed aperturez53 .inlthe block 25, asclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The externally.

projecting portion of the threaded screw has securely fixed thereto bymeans of a pin 54 a thumb engaging portion 55. The screw 51 is normall,e d against displacement from the bloc 25 by a' collar 56' formedintegrally with the screw 51.

From this construction it will be seen that as the screw 51 is turnedthrough the medium of the thumb engaging portion 55, the cutter box 47may be horizontally adjustedto and from the staple forming and drivingmechanism.

, Secured to the block 48 by means of a shoulder 57 of a screw bolt 65is a second block 58; Secured to the block .58 by means of a screw 59 isa wire tube support 60. Removably' secured in the support 60 by means ofa set screw 63 is a wire guide tube 60'. Positioned on the front face ofthe cutter block is a plate 61 secured in position by a screw 62 andhaving an aperture 62 embracing the head of the bolt 65. Reciprocallymounted between the plate 61. and .the second block 58 is aknife-carrying member 63. The knife carrying member 63 is provided witha slotted aperture 64 which slidably engages an'enlarged portion 57 ofthe screw 65. The knife carrying member 63 isfurther provided with a pin67 secured thereto in any well known manner ,and having its forward edgeextending forwardly and adapted to reciprocate in' a slot 68 formed inthe plate 61. This pin normally engages the upper portion of the slotand limits the upward movement of the reciprocating knife car ing member63 in its nor-v mal operation. cent the staple former is a reversiblekmfe 69 which is slightly bevelled at both ends thereof, as shown at 70,in such a manner as to present a good cutting'edge. This knife 69 isprovided with, on one side thereof and intermediate its ends, aprojecting portion 71, which is adapted to engage in a horizontalchannel 72 formed 'on'the side of the knife carrying member 63 adjacentthe staple forming and driving mechanism. The projection 71 of the knife69 is secured in the channel 72 of the member 63 --by means of a screw73. By this construction, it will be seen that the knife is securelyheld in its position so as to insure its eflicient operation.

From this construction'it will be seen that as soon as one edge of thecutter knife 69 ounted on the side adjaknife carrying member 63 isguided in its vertical reciproc'atory movement by a tubular member 76secured to abearing late 77, which, in turn, is secured to the kni ecarrying member 63 by means of screws 78. By this construction, it willbe seen that the tubular member embraces the spring 74 and has its outerwall slidably engaging the bore 75 of the block 58 in a manner to insureabsolute vertical reciprocation of the knife carrying member and also toprevent the possibility of the knife cutting the wire at an angle byreason of wear in these reciprocating parts. In order to further insurethe absolute vertical reciprocation of the knife and the carryingmember, it will be seen by referring to Figs. 6 and 11 that the knifecarrying member is provided with a channel 79 extending verticallythroughout the length of this member and engageable with a correspondingprojection 80 formed on the forward side of the block 58.

In connection with my improved wire cutting mechanism I'have provided anovel adjustable feeding mechanism by means of which the lengths of wirefed may be varied with the least possible effort on the part-of theoperator. This improved mechanism comprises feeding. rolls or discs 81and 82, respectively, which are operatively driven through a train ofgears 83, 84 and 85, the first of these gears 83, of course, beingoperatively driven by thegear 23 secured to the operating cam 20. Thegears 83 and 84 are pivotally supported on the studs 87 and 88 securedto the plate 18 of the head of the stilt-her. The roller 81 isoperatively driven by the gear Set and is secured thereto by a .collar89 extending from the gear to the feed disc or roller 81. The feedroller or disc 82 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 90, which, in turn,is pivotally secured to the plate 18 by means of a stud screw 91. Thefeed roller or disc 82 is resiliently pressed against its correspondingfeed disc or roller 81 through a compression spring 92, which normallyengages the free end 93 of the pivoted bracket 90. The tension on thespring 92 may be adjusted by a thumb nut 94, which is threaded to apivoted bolt 95, which, in turn, is secured to a boss 96 formed on theplate 18. The feed roller 82 is frictionally secured to a shaft 97,which is journalled in the bracket 90. The shaft 97 is provided with anenlarged collar portion 98 having one side thereof engageable andbearing against the bracket, as shownat 99, and the other edge thereofengageable with the rear side of the feed roller 82 as shown at .100.Extending through the feed roller 82 and formed as an integral part ofthe shaft 97 is a reduced portion 101. This reduced portion projectsslightly beyond the front sur face of the roller 82 as shown at 102. Thefeed roller 82 is frictionally secured to the shaft 97 by means of awasher 103, which is rovided with a depression 101 and an annuarprojecting rim 105. Extending through the washer 103 and in threadedengagement with the longitudinally threaded bore 100 in the shaft 97 isa belt 107.

From the above description it will be understood that the tightening ofthe bolt 107 compresses the annular rim 105 of the washcr 103 andfrictionally clamps the feed roll- 75 or 82 between this washer and theenlarged collar portion 98 of the shaft 97. In order to maintain thewasher 103 in relatively fixed position with respect to the shaft 97, Ihave provided a pin 108, which extends through the washer 103 and intothe shaft 97 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This prevents any rotation ofthe washer 103 with respect to the shaft 97. The object of thisconstruction is to permit the washer to carry certain graduations asshown at 109 in Figs. 1 and 3 with a single indicating mark on the frontsurface of the roller 82 adjacent the graduating marks on the washer. Bythis arrangement the bolt 107 may be loosened and the feed roller 82 maybe adjusted so that a certain graduation will permit the feeding of apredetermined length of wire to the staple and forming mechanism. Thethumb engaging portion has a corresponding 95 graduation provided at 110by means of which the cutter box may be adjusted with respect to thestaple former so as to be positioned in such a manner that when thefeeding mechanism and the cutting mechanism are adjusted tocorresponding graduations, the wire fed by the feeding mechanism will becut so as to be formed into staples in which the legs are of equallength. It will, of course, be understood that each of these two feedrollers, that is, roller 81 and roller 82, are provided with the usualprojecting feeding cam surface 81' and 82, respectively, and that whenthe roller 82 is adjusted with respect to the roller 81 the length ofwire fed will vary in accordance with the relative adjustment of thesetwo rollers.

The mechanism for actuating the cutting mechanism during each cycle ofoperation will next be described.

This mechanism comprises an arm 111 having one end thereof pivoted at112 to the plate 18. The free end of this arm 111 is provided with aroller 113, which is positioned to the rear of this arm, and is adaptedto engage a cam 114 formed on the outer surface of the cam member 20, asclearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Positioned on the free end of the arm111 adjacent the roller 113 is a threaded barrel portion 115, which isadapted to receive a threaded bolt 116 with the head 117 thereofextending downwardly and in engagement with the bearing plate 77, in amanner to actuate the cutter knife 69 100 and knife carrier 63 incutting the wire fed to the staple forming and driving mechanism. Thebolt 116 may be adjusted to compensate for wear in these wearing partsand also to permit the proper adjustment when the cutting edges of theknife are ground. The bolt 116 is securely held in its adjustedpositions in the threaded portion 115 of the arm 111 by a lock nut 118.

By the construction of the above described actuating mechanism for thecutting mechanism, it Will be understood that the cutter box may beadjusted horizontally through the medium of the thumb screw 55, and inall positions of adjustment, the cutting mechanism will always beactuated through the same cutting movement, regardless of its relativeadjusted position.

The wire 119 from which the staples are formed is taken from the usualspool 120 carried on the spindle 121 supported on the arm 122, whichprojects from and is formed integrally with the plate 18. From the spool120 the wire is fed over the curved -member 123 down through astraightening device 124 andthen through a guiding member 125.

After passing through the guiding member 125 it is engaged by a checkingmember 126, whichis adapted to prevent the withdrawal of the wireafteronce it has been fed past the feed rolls. From the checking memberit passes down between the feed rollers or discs 81 and 82 and thenthrough a curved feeding tube 127.

From the feeding tube it is passed through a wire guiding tube into thestaple forming and cutting mechanism wherein it passes into the groove40 formed in the forward end of the anvil and there held until thestaple former forms the wire into a staple and the driver drives it intothe material. The general construction above described of feeding thewire is the usual one employed in this type of wire stitching machineand the general construction per se does not form any part of thepresent invention, excepting so far as the improved means heretoforedescribed may be employed in quickly adjusting the machine to drivestaples of different lengths.

The wire straightening device shown in Fig. 13 and indicated by thenumeral 124 is adjust-ably mounted in a boss or bearing portion 129,which is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 130, whichslidingly receives an adjustable member 131 having one end thereofthreaded and adapted to receive a thumb nut 132 for laterially adjustingthe adjustable member in the bearin g portion 129. The adjustable member131 is normally pressed outwardly by a com pression spring 133. On theend'of the mem ber opposite to the end to which the thumb nut 1.32 issecured I have'provided oppol sitely disposed straightening rolls 134 between which the wire is fed and by adjusting this thumb nut 132 theserolls 134 may be laterally adjusted so that proper straightening of thewire can be readily had. It will be understood, of course, thatimmediately above these wire straightening rolls 134 are two permanentlyfixed pins 135, between which the wire passes. These pins are secured toan extension of the side plate 18 and when the rollers are adjustedlaterally with respect. to these pins 135 the Wire is readily straihtened.

In order to {permit the cutter knife 69, together with its carrying box47 to be adjusted from one side of the staple former 27, it has beennecessary to provide a vertically extending plate 56' which projectsforwardly and engages one leg of the staple former 27 for the purpose ofpreventing the leg of the former from spreading, as clearly shown inFigs. 6 and 12. The member 56' is of course secured to the block 25 inany well known manner, preferably by screws 27, and thus-forms a lateralbearing for the reciprocating staple former.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a veryefiicient wire stitching machine and one in which the feeding mechanismand the cutting mechanism may be correspondingly adjusted by adjustingeach of these parts to their corresponding graduations to stitch staplesof various sizes with the least possible effort on the part of theoperator, and' thereby saving considerable time and trouble in adjustingthese machines to stitch staples of various sizes.

While in the above description, I have described one embodiment which myinvention may assume in practice, it will of course be understood thatthe construction herein shown is capable of modification and thatmodification may be employed without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wire st'itcher comprising a frame, wire feeding mechanism carriedthereby, horizontally adjustable and vertically reciprocable cuttingmechanism carried by said frame for cutting the wire fed by said feedingmechanism, and actuating means for said cutting mechanism including anarm pivoted to said frame and a screw adjustable in said arm for varyingthe vertical movement of said cutting mechanism. v

2. In a wire stitcher, the combinaton with a frame, of a drive shaftmounted thereon, a wire feeding mechanism operatively drivon by saidshaft, a staple former mounted in said frame for vertical reciprocatorymovement, a staple driver mounted in said staple former for verticalreciprocatory movement, a cam secured to said shaft and operativelyconnected to said staple former and driver, cutting mechanism mounted onIll said frame and adjustable horizontally with respect to said stapleformer and driver, and an arm pivoted to said frame having a roller onone end thereof engageable with said cam for actuating said cuttingmechanism, an adj ustable screw on said arm adjacent said roller adaptedto engage said cutting mechanism, and means for locking said screw inits adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 10 name to this specification, onthis 29th day of August, A. D. 1923.

ERNEST LESCHHORN.

